PORTLAND, Maine -- Eastern League President Joseph McEacharn is pleased to announce Ben Young of the Altoona Curve has been named the winner of the 2013 Eastern League Diamond Pro Sports Field Manager of the Year Award. It is the first time in his career that Young has won this award, which is selected based on voting by Eastern League field staff and umpires.

Young, who is a native of St. Louis, is in his second season as the head groundskeeper of the Altoona Curve. Prior to joining the Curve, Young spent time in Glendale, Ariz. maintaining the spring training facility of the Chicago White Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers. He also spent five seasons with the Gateway Grizzlies of the Frontier League, where in 2010 he received the Craig Kuhl Award as the best groundskeeper in the league.

In presenting Young with this award, the Eastern League and Diamond Pro would also like to recognize Cody Kaneichi, Andrew Keller, Alexis Ebersole, Bobby Hughes, Chris Krozel, Craig Replogle and Shayne Rossman, who are also members of the grounds crew at Peoples Natural Gas Field.

"Ben has done a tremendous job with our playing surface since the moment we hired him two years ago," said Altoona Curve GM Rob Egan. "He's focused on playability first and foremost and is excellent in working with the players and coaches to ensure the field is the best it can be. This has been a trying season weather-wise in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic that has posed challenges to the surface and the ability to play games as scheduled. Because of his organized field maintenance schedule and outstanding relationships with our staff, umpires and local meteorologists, he has ensured quality playing conditions even in adverse weather. We could not be prouder of the job Ben has done and are thrilled to see him rewarded for his efforts."

Diamond Pro offers a complete line of professional groundskeeping products which include infield conditioners, calcined clay products, mound & home plate clays, clay bricks, marking dust, green divot sand, infield and warning track mixes. The newest addition to the Diamond Pro family of products is Double Play Infield Conditioner, a first of its kind product that is an ideal blend of Vitrified Red Infield Conditioner and Professional Calcined Clay Conditioner, together in one bag. Diamond Pro® professional groundskeeping products deliver long-lasting performance and quality while enhancing the look and feel of a well-maintained field. Diamond Pro is a subsidiary of Dallas-based Trinity Industries, a multi-industry company that owns a variety of market-leading businesses providing products and services.

For more information, visit www.diamondpro.com and follow them on Facebook and Twitter (@DiamondProTXI).

This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.